Motivating children to read English books with fun activities

Nicola Schofield
A child sat on a bed reading a book

Why is reading important??

Apart from being a?great hobby?and fun?activity, it can help children improve in many areas of their lives through developing?key transferrable skills. Reading in their native language and English can bring a whole range of benefits. To engage everyone, they must?understand the benefits themselves.? ?

Ask your students why it's important and create a mind map of ideas. You may also?wish to use some of the points below to start the conversation. Having a common idea that everyone agrees on can help build motivation and engagement in the classroom.?

Improves?language skills?

Regular reading develops children¡¯s linguistic skills ¨C it helps them learn good?sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary and?improves?spelling in their own language and in the English language too. Reading aloud?also strengthens?knowledge of phonics and improves?pronunciation?and articulation.??

Improves memory?

It can help to develop knowledge of phonics and vocabulary?recall and improve focus and concentration?¨C all necessary skills when learning a language.?

Cultivates curiosity?

Books help kids¡¯ imaginations to grow?and?encourage them to be?more open-minded. They?help us to learn about other cultures and encourage us to think more creatively. Through subtle messages,?reading?builds?an?awareness of the world in which we live and?enables?children to form?their own?opinions?and ask questions.?

Creates empathy?

Stories help to develop children¡¯s emotional intelligence?and?empathy towards?others. Exploring?topics and characters allows them to learn about?real-world situations?and think about how they would feel?in?somebody else¡¯s shoes. It encourages?respect for others¡¯ feelings?as well as?other?cultures.??

Reduces stress?

It is a great way to?calm the mind and help us relax and destress. Children can learn to use it as a helpful tool in their day-to-day lives.???

Develops key life skills?

Children develop their confidence, communication, resilience, patience, social skills and connect?with the wider world, culture?and communities.?

So how do we motivate our young learners?(even our most reluctant readers)?to develop a passion for reading??

It?must?be fun,?purposeful and relevant?

Well-known adaptations?can remove barriers, support and encourage students¡¯ imagination,?and?spark?a genuine interest. They?give purpose and relevance to the students as most students have watched a movie?at some point in their lives and most students have a?favorite movie?or character.??

Let your young learners choose?

There are plenty of English Readers to choose from?¨C if the students can choose their own readers, they will likely be more motivated and focused. Choice gives the students power and makes it more relevant to them. Ask your students to choose their?favorite movie?and?have a vote as a class. Get to know your students, find out what interests them, and base your?book choice around this.?

Rewards??

To motivate students, they?must know that they are?making progress. Reward students for their achievements ¨C for example,?create?a vocabulary wall or?a class book chart and give rewards?like?a?sticker?or?a postcard?to take?home.?

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Here are five practical, fun ideas on how to further motivate your learners and engage them in reading both in and outside the classroom.

1. Make a bookmark?

Making a?bookmark?is a fun way to get children into the habit of reading more regularly. If they have their own bookmark, then they are more likely?to want to pick up a book and read it. In the activity, the children can make their own?bookmark?based on their?favorite?book as well as?draw a picture of their?favorite?scene.

There¡¯s space for them to write about their?favorite?character and any new words they have learned. The?bookmark?then becomes not only a way to?find your page but?it?can?also?help kids engage in English conversations about the stories and make them feel like they are making progress.

2. Create a mind map?

A mind?map is an activity that helps children to understand and?analyze?what is happening in the book they have just read. It?is a great way to show their understanding of the story clearly. It could also be used?for doing?a short presentation on the book or?for helping to?write a short paragraph about it.??

3. Write your own short story?

This activity is creative and asks the children to choose their?favorite?reader. They then use their imagination to write a short story about what happens next. They can place characters?in a completely different story of their own?and send them off on a new, exciting adventure?or decide what happens next in the original story.

Writing stories like this helps young people to explore their ideas, express their creativity and reinforce?sentence structure, vocabulary and grammar at the same time.

4. Create a reading passport?

Motivate children?by giving them clear and achievable goals. Asking them to fill in a passport as they read a new book is a fun way to encourage them.

Each book allows each child to enter a different world and?once they have visited each place, they complete a new page in the passport and receive a stamp.?You could even make this a class competition to see who can fill in the passport pages the quickest.

5. Create a character profile

Ask the children to choose their?favorite?character and produce a?movie?poster?on that person. Ask the students to draw a picture and?write?key details about the character, such as name, age, physical appearance and interests. This activity motivates the students as seeing their?favorite?character in a different context can be entertaining and engaging.

With these simple activities, you can make reading a more enjoyable experience, as well as helping with learning English for kids and developing their overall reading skills.??

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    Balancing work, life, and learning: How adult learners navigate English language learning

    By Dr. Le Dinh Bao Quoc
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Dr. Quoc is an author, educational solutions provider and AIED expert with over 20 years of experience in ELT and education in Vietnam. He is the Founder and CEO of Pro.Ed Education Solutions and Chief Officer of EduVerse, a global network supporting lifelong learning for educators. Dr. Quoc is also the author of The Art and Science of ChatGPT in Education and was named a LinkedIn Top Educational Leadership Voice in 2024. His work focuses on integrating AI into education to support personalized and flexible learning for teachers and learners.

    For many adult learners, mastering English isn¡¯t just about gaining a new skill¡ªit¡¯s about unlocking opportunities in work, family and social spheres. But juggling English lessons alongside work, family obligations and social commitments is a challenge that can feel overwhelming.

    This guide explores the unique challenges adult learners face and how educators can support them with empathy, flexibility and effective strategies.

    The challenges of learning English as an adult

    Meet Le, a 35-year-old Vietnamese project manager who dreams of working for an international company. With a demanding full-time job and two young children, finding time for English lessons feels impossible. Missing classes and struggling to complete assignments leads to frustration and self-doubt¡ªan all-too-common experience among adult learners.

    Many adults face similar challenges:

    • Balancing work, family and personal commitments leaves little time and energy for study.
    • Fatigue after a long day makes it difficult to concentrate or retain information.
    • Progress feels slow, which can be demotivating.

    Without practical support, the goal of English proficiency can seem out of reach.

    Strategies for overcoming challenges

    1. Setting SMART Goals

    Educators can guide learners to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals. Breaking down larger objectives into small, measurable milestones gives learners a sense of achievement. For example, ÃÛÌÒapp¡¯s Global Scale of English (GSE) provides actionable ¡°Can-do¡± statements, such as:

    • Reading (GSE 37/CEFR A2+): Can understand simple personal emails.
    • Speaking (GSE 44/CEFR B1): Can give a short talk with visual support.

    These manageable goals create motivation and help learners like Le stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.

    2. Offering flexible learning options

    Flexibility is key for adult learners. Teachers can adopt strategies such as:

    • Modular lessons that can be completed in short sessions.
    • Micro-learning, including 10-minute daily practices using apps or quick grammar exercises.

    For learners like Le, micro-learning can easily be integrated into a work commute or lunch break.

    3. Blending learning with real-world scenarios

    Teaching English through practical, real-life contexts makes lessons more relevant and efficient. Using authentic materials like emails, meeting notes, or presentations mirrors learners¡¯ daily lives and creates immediate applications for their new skills. For instance:

    • Help learners role-play workplace conversations.
    • Develop speaking proficiency for social interactions or workplace scenarios.

    This approach saves time and reinforces the usefulness of learning English, keeping learners motivated.

    4. Encouraging weekly reflection

    Reflection allows learners to monitor their progress, stay motivated and adapt their strategies. Teachers can:

    • Encourage learners to set weekly goals (e.g., learning new business vocabulary or practicing pronunciation for 15 minutes daily).
    • Use reflection journals to track achievements, identify challenges and adjust learning plans.

    This habit reinforces a growth mindset, helping learners make consistent progress amidst their busy schedules.

    Implementing the strategies

    Here¡¯s how educators can apply these strategies effectively:

    1. Assess and set goals

    Work with learners to set realistic, measurable goals based on their personal motivations and schedules.

    2. Create flexible study plans

    Develop personalized study schedules that incorporate modular lessons and micro-learning techniques.

    3. Use authentic materials

    Include sample emails, presentations, or conversations that align with the learner¡¯s work or life situations, making lessons more practical.

    4. Encourage accountability

    Implement tools like reflective journals or digital reminders to help learners stay on track and see their progress.

    5. Leverage personalized AI tools

    Use AI-powered tools to recommend tailored exercises, provide instant feedback and enable targeted practice in learners¡¯ focus areas.

    Why It matters

    English proficiency opens doors to better job opportunities, stronger social connections and enriched personal growth. By providing empathetic and flexible support, teachers empower learners to achieve their goals without compromising their work-life balance.
    For educators seeking further resources, ÃÛÌÒapp¡¯s GSE framework offers valuable tools to help adult learners succeed. Teachers can use these aids to track progress and personalize lessons for maximum impact.

    Celebrate education

    To mark the incredible work of educators helping learners balance work, life and study, we encourage you to share your own experiences and tips to others. Together, we can continue to empower lifelong learning and celebrate the role of education in transforming lives.